NAV
UX/UI Design
Navigating post-graduates towards fulfilling careers and opportunities
NAV
NAV is an app that helps post-graduates navigate towards fulfilling careers and opportunities after graduation. It allows users to connect with a mentor, attend networking events & workshops, and access career resources to help them start their career journey.
Project Overview
-
Project Type
Academic June-August 2021
-
Timeline
8 Weeks
-
Role
UX Researcher, Design Strategy, UX/UI Designer
-
Tools
Figma & Invision
Design Challenge
The inspiration came from a personal struggle that I experienced after graduation. Not knowing what career I wanted to pursue, I felt lost and confused. But upon talking to friends and family, this feeling that I was experiencing was very prevalent and normal for post-grads. After exploring different fields of interests and working different jobs, I was able to narrow down what I was truly passionate about. But is there a better way for post-graduates to navigate towards a fulfilling career?
Design Process
-
Discover
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
-
Define
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
-
Develop
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
-
Deliver
Description goes here
Discover
Discovery of Problem Space
Post-graduates often feel lost and confused about what career path to pursue after graduation due to lack of resources, exposure to other fields of interests, not enough guidance, and much more.
Based on a study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, they found that only 27 percent of college graduates work in a field related to their major.
Secondary Research
Based on secondary research, I found data that further supports the issues of what post-graduates face after graduation.
44% of undergraduates don’t know what they want to do after graduation. (Concrete, 2021)
52% of students agree with the statement, “I have no idea what I want to do with my career”. (Concrete, 2021)
49% of graduates’ mental health are negatively impacted after graduation. (BBC News, 2019)
Why are post-graduates feeling this way?
According to City Mental Health Alliance, it has been observed that there is a correlation between people not being able to find long term work and not being able to reach their goals is harmful to their mental health.
The Co-founder of Allaboutcareers.com expressed that there are worrying statistics that emphasize the need for high quality, free and easy access to career information for young people.
Jane Oates (former Official in the U.S. Department of Labor) mentioned that there is a strong case for work-based learning. Education systems are not prepping students well enough for the workplace.
Primary Research
In addition to collecting research from the web, I conducted user interviews on recent post-graduates to gain more insight on their thoughts and feelings towards life after graduation. Based on the user interviews there were 3 main themes that were derived.
“The students that were successful after graduating had guidance and it was easier for them to transition into a career.”
Uncertainty and confusion after graduation
A lot of post-graduates felt that they were lost and confused after graduation. Reasons being that they didn’t have the right guidance, the school didn’t prepare them enough with practical work experience, and much more.
Lack of resources and guidance
This seems to be a main driver as to why post-graduates often feel lost and confused after graduation. Potential solutions may be to connect with a mentor, provide career resources, workshops, and networking events.
Education systems don’t offer enough practical experiences
This came up a lot during user interviews where a lot of post-graduates felt their school didn’t prepare them enough to transition into a working professional. There was a lack of emphasis on networking and gaining work experience in your field of interest while in school.
Define
How Might We Statement
How might we guide post-graduates to find fulfilling opportunities in their desired field of interest in order to avoid the effect confusion has on their mental health?
User Persona
After conducting secondary research and user interviews, I was able to create a primary user persona that represented my target market. Based on insights derived from research and interviews, I was able to pin-point the goals/motivations, behaviours, and pain points of the user.
Experience Map
With the user persona constructed, I was then able to create an experience map that outlines how the user would interact with my digital solution. By analyzing and identifying the different stages and emotions of the map, I was able to establish any opportunities within the user’s experience.
Define
Task Selection Process
Epic
Based on the HMW statement and the user persona created, I then developed a set of 30 user stories under 3 epics to help me better understand the task selection and flow. After analyzing the user stories and epics, I chose my primary epic to be To connect with a mentor.
User Story
As a post graduate I want to be able to connect with a mentor outside of the field of finance to learn more about UX design.
Task Flow
By determining the primary epic and user story, I was able to create a task flow of how the user would interact with NAV.
Main Task
To connect with mentor in UX Design.
Secondary Tasks
To add to their interests section
To filter the mentor list
Ideation Sketches
By determining the primary epic and user story, I was able to create a task flow of how the user would interact with NAV.
Main Task
To connect with mentor in UX Design.
Secondary Tasks
Solution Sketch
By determining the primary epic and user story, I was able to create a task flow of how the user would interact with NAV.
Main Task
To connect with mentor in UX Design.
Secondary Tasks
Wireframes
By determining the primary epic and user story, I was able to create a task flow of how the user would interact with NAV.
Deliver
User Testing
Summary
The purpose of the usability test is to gain feedback and insight on how a user interacts with the digital solution. There were 10 testers and 2 rounds that took place over a span of 2 days through Zoom. Overall, the usability test went well, all users were able to complete the tasks and understood the purpose of the app. Along with the testing, I was able to make revisions on the first round of testing and then with the revised prototype, test with the second round. In the end, I was able to make a final prototype with the second round of testing.
Scenario
Participants will be given a scenario to put themselves in the user’s shoes along with given tasks to further evaluate the usability of the app.
User Testing- Round 1
By determining the primary epic and user story, I was able to create a task flow of how the user would interact with NAV.
User Testing- Round 2
By determining the primary epic and user story, I was able to create a task flow of how the user would interact with NAV.
Visual Design
Brand development, Mood board, UI Library,